XN000022-1975-06-13 — Page 2

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FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 1975

ROY PORTER OFF TO BRITAIN TO WOO INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT TO HONG KONG

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THE ACTING DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, MR. ROY PORTER, LEAVES FOR LONDON TODAY (FRIDAY) AT THE START OF A THREE-WEEK INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT PROMOTION TOUR OF BRITAIN.

MR: S.K. HO OF THE TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL IS ALREADY IN LONDON FOR THE SAME PURPOSE.

THE HONG KONG TEAM WILL BE TELLING BRITISH INDUSTRIALISTS IN LONDON, BIRMINGHAM AND GLASGOW ABOUT THE ADVANTAGES OF SETTING UP MANUFACTURING PLANTS IN HONG KONG, EITHER BY THEMSELVES OR IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HONG KONG FIRMS.

THE OPPORTUNITY TO +SELL+ HONG KONG AS AN ATTRACTIVE. PLACE FOR INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT WAS PROVIDED BY THE CONFEDERATION OF BRITISH INDUSTRIES WHICH HAS ALSO INVITED SINGAPORE AND MALAYSIA TO TAKE PART IN THE SERIES OF DISCUSSIONS AND SEMINARS ORGANISED BY THEM.

MR. PORTER SAYS THAT THE JOINT INVITATION MAKES GOOD SENSE. HE EXPLAINED THAT IT WAS ONLY LOGICAL FOR ANY INTERESTED INVESTOR TO WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE REGION IN WHICH HE MIGHT WANT TO INVEST.

+WE, IN HONG KONG, ARE VERY CONFIDENT THAT WE HAVE A LOT TO OFFER THAT WOULD MAKE IT WORTHWHILE FOR ANY OVERSEAS INVESTOR TO SET UP FACTORY HERE,+ MR. PORTER SAID.

MR. PORTER ADDED THAT THE EXPERIENCE GAINED FROM A SIMILAR MISSION TO AUSTRALIA EARLIER THIS YEAR HAD SHOWN THAT DIRECT APPROACHES TO COMPANIES AT THE BOARDROOM LEVEL PRODUCED A GOOD RESPONSE.

HE POINTED OUT THAT BRITISH INTEREST IN LOCAL INDUSTRY. AT PRESENT, ACCOUNTED FOR ONLY 10 PER CENT OF OVERALL FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN HONG KONG, AND ADDED THAT THERE WERE VERY GOOD OPPORTUNITIES FOR MORE BRITISH INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT HERE.

+MANY BRITISH INDUSTRIES HAVE PARTICULAR RELEVANCE TO HONG KONG'S PRESENT STATE OF INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT. IN ENGINEERING, PARTICULARLY, BRITISH INDUSTRIAL KNOWLEDGE WOULD BE MOST VALUABLE TO HONG KONG'S FURTHER DEVELOPMENT.

+BRITISH EXPERIENCE, DESIGN AND MARKETING KNOWLEDGE ALLIED WITH HONG KONG'S HIGHLY SKILLED PRODUCTIVE CAPACITY WOULD MAKE A VERY COMPETITIVE ARRANGEMENT INDEED+ MR. PORTER SAID, AND THAT IS WHAT WE SHALL BE TELLING BRITISH INDUSTRIALISTS+.

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